Boat construction



June 13, 1944. H. c. HARTZOG 2,351,122

BOAT CONSTRUCTION Filed May 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 13, 1944- H. c. HARTZOG 2,351,122

BOAT CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1942 Patented June 13, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC BOAT CONSTRUCTION Harrison C. Hartzog, Port Lavaca, Tex.

Application May 14, 1942, Serial No. 442,968

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a boat construction, and has for one of its objects the production of a simple and eflicient boat construction formed from ply-wood, weld-wood, and similar material, and which is so constructed as to be thoroughly braced throughout, to provide a sturdy structure, is economical as to manufacture, repair or replacement of' parts, and which will possess a maximum buoyancy.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple and efficient method of building and assembling the various parts of the boat, so that the finished product may be produced in mass production within a minimum amount of time.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the hull of the boat;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the mold used in forming the bottom;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure '7 is a transverse sectional view through the bottom. in its process of assembly;

Figure 8 is a side elevetional view of one of the longitudinal ribs.

By referring to the drawings it will be seen that H designates the hull of the boat which comprise a bottom B. sides C and a deck D. and such ot er conventional, necessary, or desired parts. The bottom B comprises an outer bottom skin H! of ply-wood, weld-wood, or the like, which is properly flexed to fit the longitudinally extending spaced ribs H. An inner bot-- tom skin 12 of ply-wood. weld wood. or the like. is secured to the inner edges of the ribs l 1. These i ner and outer bottom skins are glued to the ribs and are then nailed. screwed or otherwise secured to the ribs in a manner described in the following. A conventional keel member I3 is provided and a chine strip rib ll is secured a ound the miter edge of each side of the bottom B. ribs H, by being spaced and extending longitudinally of the bottom B and effieiently sealed to the inner and outer skins it! and !2, provide the bottom 13 with a plurality of separate longitudinal buoyant compartments is extending for the full length of the bottom. The ribs ll constitute the longitudinal braces, and the nails, screws or other securing means for attaching the inner and outer bottom skins to the ribs provide transverse bracing means in conjunction with the skins NJ and i2, thereby eliminating the necessity for providing a variety of specially cut and fitted transverse bracing ribs which must be individually cut and fitted in the ordinary type of boat construction.

The boat is shaped in the desired contour as to the bottom, sides and the like, but in the present structure each side 0 is formed of an inner side skin I5 of plywood, weld-Wood, or the like, and an outer side skin It of ply-wood, weld-wood, or the like, the skins l5 and I6 being properly flexed to provide the desired shape. The side skins l5 and I6 converge at their lower edges, as at H, and are secured to the side edges of the bottom B, as shown in Figure 3. The upper edges of the skins l5 and I6 diverge to provide a V-shaped pocket l8 between the inner and outer side skins l5 and I6. This pocket I8 is filled with suitable buoyant material I9 to sustain the hull in the event of puncture and to resist minor projectiles. A deck D is secured to the upper edges of the skins l5 and Hi to brace the sides and hold the upper edges of the skins l5 and IS in proper spaced relation and also to hold the sides C in their proper contour. The stern is preferably provided with a depth bomb discharge portion 20 of a suitably designed type.

In building the boat illustrated, there is provided a suitable mold 2| comprising a properly shaped elongated body having spaced channels 22 formed in the upper face thereof to receive the keel ribs II and chine strip ll to the outer bottom skin Ill. The ribs I l and strip I l are first cut in the desired shape and the edges are cut at the proper angle by a suitable tool having suitable templates or guide-controlled parting equipment which carries a rail, the rail fixing the transverse angle of the cut for duplicating compound angles so that intricate parts may be reproduced by unskilled labor. After the chine strip, ribs and keel are glued to the outer skin and fastened by extending fastening means through previously prepared locations the assembled structure is removed to a second mold which is shaped to receive the bottom and hold it in accurate alignment. The inner bottom skin or floor I2 is now applied and fastened to the upper surface of the chine Strip, ribs, keel, etc., which are so designed that such fastening produces a cellular water-tight compartment between the confines of each spaced member. After fastening the parts of the bottom B together, a structure of great mechanical strength, particularly in its longitudinal section,

is produced, due to the fact that the ribs are light solid sections running in a fore and aft direction. After the above steps have been taken, the bottom B is then moved to a third mould which receives the bottom and to which suitable templates are attached in a manner to'receive and hold the inner side skin'sheets 15 in proper alignment for fastening to the bottom. The bottom B with the inner side skin sheets attached is moved to a fourth template constructed to align the outer side skin sheets l6 and other parts. The control equipment is then placed within the hull and the deck is set and other finishing and launching steps are taken.

and an outer bottom skin of plywood, longitudinal spaced ribs interposed between and secured to The present invention provides a boat which may be used to advantage in beach landings for troops, light artillery and mobile units and may sustain the hull after puncture, and to resist minor projectiles. A further advantage of the present invention is the production of a boat which possesses good stability with small list on turns and because of the smooth inner and outer side skins the sides may be easily repaired by securing ply-wood patches over the injured portion of the hull. j Having described the invention, what I claim as new is: V g, v

Aboat of the class described comprising a hull having a bottom, the bottom comprising an inner the inner and outer bottom skins to provide a plurality of buoyant compartments extending longitudinallyof the bottom, each side of the hull having an inner and outer side skin, the lower edges of the inner and outer side skins fitting in close relation and being secured to the side edges of the bottom, the ends of the inner and outer side skins being secured together at the stern of the hull and spaced at the bow, the inner and outer side skins diverging upwardly to space the inner and outer side skins along their upper edges throughout themajor portion of thelength of the hull, and a deck fastened to the upper edges of the inner and outer side skins for holding the inner and outer side skins in set spaced relation to provide a pocket longitudinally of each side of the hull for receiving buoyant material;

' HARRISON C. HARTZOG. 

